SIN PLUS SCIENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 267, 8 November 1923, Page 3

SIN PLUS SCIENCE.

PERIL OF MODERN WORLD. A BAPTIST SURVEY. After having visited six continents, crossed eight seas, and passed through the three great canals of the world, the Rev. J. J. North, of Christchurch. just •back from a trip, told a. large audience ait the Auckland Baptist Tabernacle last night that he was satisfied the world was faced with a crisis that might threaten civilisation itself. The world had become possessed of vast scientific powers that men were controlling and mastering, and man's equipment had outstripped his morality by many aeons. To-day there was a * battle royal between Christianity and the material-) ists. The pride of life in every city was to-day greater than it bad ever been in the past ages, and the sins of mankind were being followed with a new force and vivacity due to the vast scientific equipment of the modern world. The question was could religion live amid that strife? His conclusion was that it could not unless it were a very simple religion. Those who looked to a heavily dogmatic, a heavily-officered religion to live might jurt as well go :. out and dig a grave for it to-morrow. Romanism could have no futurt' in the world as we knew it to-day. And «n i the other hand a narrow Fh'niouthism could have no future in a world such i as we knew. But the world must have ■ a religion, and Christ was "the only - name." Tf the Christian faiths were ■ combined there would be no fear, but " they were not and the sacerdotal and non-sacerdotal religions never could * combine. The Roman Catholic Church was not > the one to grapple with to-day's prol>lems. nor was thi> Anglican Church, in > which there was a large disruptive 5 Ansrlo-c&tholic party. There wore two 7 distinct parties in the Anglican Church - in England, typified by La timer and - Laud. While Mr. Xortli" waa in London r there was held in St. Paul's a high * Mass, after which, as the bishop walked " out. the conpreeation kissed his hand. * Outside the cathedral stood St. Pauls ■ Cross near where Hush Latimer * preached. Tt was a wonder the cross r did not fall down Hal! On the other " side they had in the Anglican Church--3 such a man a-« splendid Dean Injre. a servant of the people, and thoroughly " Protestant. What was poing to happen * to such a Church in which they had r on one hand the Mass. and on the other 3 ail almost noisy Christianity? Mr. Nort'i was <-<r+ain <he future of the b troubled world lav not with Catholicism, ■ but with Protestantism. The Anglican ' Church w.is for the reasons lie had given 1 not tli" Church wiHi which the future Ihv. Presbyterianism was a comfort, mid so was Methodism, but the simplf form of Christianity that alone could ■ save the world was to he found in ihe ' simple, and free form of Christianity of the Baptist Churi-h.